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EPA, conservation groups: Wyoming’s ‘impaired’ water protocols run afoul of the Clean Water Act
Federal regulators say Wyoming must consider all readily available water quality data under Clean Water Act reviews, while the state defends its government-only sample rule.
- Federal environmental regulators and water quality advocates are urging the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to revise a policy restricting who can submit water samples for Clean Water Act impairment decisions.
- The state implemented these restrictions in 2020 following a dispute with the Western Watersheds Project regarding data deemed "non credible" submitted for Lander Creek impairment decisions.
- EPA Region 8 Water Division Acting Director Sarah Bahrman wrote that federal regulations require states to "assemble and evaluate all existing and readily available water quality-related data and information" when developing impaired water lists.
- Environmental groups including the Wyoming Outdoor Council and American Rivers labeled the policy "fiscally irresponsible" and "unnecessarily restrict," arguing the state should utilize data from universities and citizen scientists.
- DEQ officials defend the updated methodology as transparent; "What data do we need, and how do we need to collect it to determine if this use is supported or not?" Steg said, emphasizing clear assessment standards.
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Associated Press News+9 Reposted by 9 other sources
EPA, conservation groups: Wyoming’s ‘impaired’ water protocols run afoul of the Clean Water Act
Federal environmental regulators and water quality advocates want the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to rectify a policy restricting who can submit water samples used to decide whether waters are too polluted and below Clean Water Act standards.
·United States
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Total News Sources11
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution64% Center
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources are Center
64% Center
L 27%
C 64%
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